Minutes of the Bi-Monthly Town Board Meeting and Budget Workshop held on September 26, 2007 at 5:00 PM, at the Keene Town Hall. The following Board Members were present: William Ferebee, Supervisor, Paul R. Martin, Robert Biesemeyer, Lawrence Jaques, Marcy Neville, Members of Council, Bruce Reed, Superintendent of Highways and Paula McDonough, Clerk to the Supervisor.

Mr. Ferebee called the meeting to order at 5:04 PM.

The first item of business was how bad the tree in front of the Community Center was. Bruce Reed went with Dan Moore to see if pruning would be enough. Mr. Moore said it would be better to take the tree down. Marcy Neville said she wanted to look at it before any cutting was done.

Mr. Ferebee presented the information he found out from Mr. Barry Miller from the Essex County Real Property Office about the Ad Valorem tax for Keene Water District #1. This process is to place on the tax roll the yearly cost of the debt payment equally to all parcels in the district. Some of the parcels are partly in the district; therefore Mr. Miller said it would be up to the Assessors to determine the percentage to be taxed on each parcel. Mr. Miller said he believed that two weeks was sufficient to get this information together. This information needs to be at the Real Property Office by mid October.

The meeting changed to budget workshop.

Mr. Lawrence asked why the Airport Hangar Revenue was down. Mr. Ferebee told him that only one was rented at this time, but we have advertised at Lake Placid Airport. Mr. Ferebee stated that if it is not rented by mid fall, the Town will use it for storage of equipment for the winter.

Mr. Reed, when the Highway Garage budget was looked at, brought to the attention of the Town Board the fact that the windows at the Highway Garage were not in good shape. He said that from the beginning, they sweated terribly, that the sash is rotting. Mr. Biesemeyer indicted that there should be a warranty and asked Mr. Ferebee to look into it. Mr. Ferebee will call the contractor on the project. Mr. Biesemeyer said he would stop at the garage and take a look at the windows. There are five windows that need repair. The Board said that possibly the specs should be looked at to make sure we got the windows we were supposed to get.

Mr. Jaques suggested that we temporarily skip the General Fund Budget and go to the Highway Budget so that Mr. Reed could leave.

Mr. Reed explained that he wanted to raise the Snow Removal Contractual Budget by $10,000.00 due to the rising costs of fuel not yet stabilizing, and the fact that we needed to purchase more salt and sand. He feared that is the winter is a bad one, we would need the funds. He is also considering the purchase of a new Loader. The Equipment Budget is raised by $25,000.00 for this purpose. Some of the personnel budget has been lowered due to the fact that one of the employees has stated that he may retire this fall.

The Board asked if we had a choice of where to purchase the salt, Mr. Reed stated that the County has the state contract on it, so that’s were we have to buy it. He said the other reason for increasing the Highway budget is the fact that the fuel costs have not stabilized.

The Board asked how much the estimate is for the budget increases: General Fund, $72,994.44, Highway $61,800.00, Library $3,256.00, which is a possible 5% increase.

It was stated that a couple of the reasons for increases in the General Fund is that a total of $20,000 has been put in the budget for the Bi-Centennial Celebration, keeping a good amount in the budget for the eventual replacement of the Community Center Boiler, and repair of the Norton Cemetery wall, increased cost of health and liability insurance and a 3% cost of living raise for the employees.

Mr. Ferebee stated that he has been in contact with Kevin Hall regarding more lots in the Norton Cemetery. Mr. Hall feels that behind the vault area there is room for 100 two grave lots.

Mr. Martin explained to the Board how he would like the financial aspect of the Bi-Centennial. The Town will basically have the “seed” money and as the committee sells goods, they will pay for other necessities for the celebration.

Resolution No. 159-07
Mr. Ferebee offered a resolution and moved its adoption, calling for an Executive Session to discuss personnel issues. Mr. Jaques seconded the motion. The board went into Executive Session at 5:40PM.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee Yes
Mr. Martin Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer Yes
Ms. Neville Yes
Mr. Jaques Yes

Mr. Jaques left the Executive Session at 5:45 PM.

Mr. Jaques looked at the transfers to be presented and stated that he approved them.

Resolution No. 160-07
The Board resumed the regular meeting at 6:00 PM. Motion to resume made by Mr. Ferebee, seconded by Mrs. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee Yes
Mr. Martin Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer Yes
Ms. Neville Yes
Mr. Jaques Yes

Resolution No. 161-07
The Town Board adopted Resolution 160-07, a Resolution Transferring Funds. This resolution, in its entirety, is attached to and made a part of these minutes.

Resolution No. 162-07
Mrs. Neville offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that the following bills be accepted for payment. This resolution was seconded by Mr. Biesemeyer.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee Yes
Mr. Martin Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer Yes
Ms. Neville Yes
Mr. Jaques Yes

General Fund Bills No. 518 – 546 $43,761.70
Highway Fund Bills No. 172 – 181 $15,546.37
Library Fund Bills No. 96 – 100 $ 294.05
Water District #1 Bills No. 93 – 97 $ 495.47
Water District #2 Bills No. 87 – 94 $ 5,957.22

Resolution No. 163-07
Mr. Biesemeyer offered a resolution and moved its adoption. Be it resolved, that all business having been transacted, this meeting is adjourned. This resolution was seconded by Ms. Neville.
Roll Call Vote:
Mr. Ferebee Yes
Mr. Martin Yes
Mr. Biesemeyer Yes
Ms. Neville Yes
Mr. Jaques Yes

The meeting adjourned at 6:05 PM.

Paula R. McDonough
Clerk to the Supervisor
September 28, 2007

William B. Ferebee, Supervisor
Paul R. Martin, Council
Robert Biesemeyer, Council
Marcy Neville, Council
Lawrence Jaques, Council